Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07

THE NEW CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
Intended % Prevent the Promo,ion Of
Unfit Persons.
TALK WITH CIVIL ssRvIc1 COMMISSIONER osRRIr-
VIEWS on HON. BENZ. BUT1yRvoRTH.
''Tne rules were adopted for the purpose of pre-
venting the promotion OF persons who are entirely
UNIT" said Civil Service Commissioner oberly to
STAB reporter to-day, In reference to the new
rules OF promotion recently approved by the
President, and synopsis OF which was published
in The STAR. AZ Commissioner Oberly is under
stood to be the author Of the rules, The STAR re-
porter called his attention to the criticism that
their operation would tend to prevent the promo
ton OF old and capable Government clerks
After making the statement quoted Commissioner
Oberly said: 'sThese rules
WILL MOT PREVENT THE PROMOTION OF CAPABLE
There is no danger OF that. They are designed
to advance the principle Of fitness. The examina-
lions are not to be technical The questions are
to be prepared by persons OF the bureau in which
the promotion Is to be made, and they will be
formed There is to be board OF promotion, to
consist OF three members from each OF the execu-
tive departments These Will be the members-at-
large, SO to speak. Then there Is to be a member
from each bureau. These we call the auxiliary
members me Now the member for bureau, the aux
inary memDer IS TO decide the tests to be applied
TO promotions in that bureau. These tests will
not be OF technical, but
PRACTICAL CHARACTER.
Beside this the head of the bureau marks the efi-
cheney OF the applicant for promotion by the re-
cord OF the clerk by record he or she has made
The head OF the bureau is presumed to know the
the efficiency, and what he marks the board takes
ana counts 10 the credit OF the person. That al
lows lows the head Of the bureau to outweigh any
tests as TO the capacity, the industry, and regu-
larlty OF attendance OF the applicant. II an APP
plicant fails in examination he is not reduced at
before he can be again examined. II. after the
lapse OF that time, he again fails. he may in the
discretion Of the head or the Department. be re-
the head OF the bureau OF proper discretion or
autho 1ty In the matter of promotions but assists
MIN In electtng the best material and in resisting
cure the promotion OF incompetent and unfit
people. NO person who is competent will be de-
prlved OF promotion by these rules. They will
operate only against the incompetent and the
unfit"
WHAT COMMISSIONER LYMAN SAYS.
The clerks in the Departments to-day are very
anxious about the amendments to the civ1l-seryice
rules with relation to promotion. The questions
most OF them are anxious to have answered are
competitive examination, the one in each instance
who makes the best record will get the promotion;
and, Also whether an appointment could be made
to the vacancy through the Civil-Serv1ce commits
sion. These questions were repeatedly put to a
STAR reporter In the Departments to-day: so he
sought Commissioner Lyman for an answer.
Mr.. Lyman says that all the eligibleS OF the next
lowest grade--that is, all those who have passed
the examination will be certified to the Official
making the appointment, and he may choose any
one OF them; also the appointment may be made
through the Commission from outside the Depart.
ment. He thinks, however, that In all cases the
person standing best in examination and fortified
also with good record will get the promotion,
and that it viii be rare thing to appoint through
the Commission instead OF making promotion
Mr.. Lyman is opposed to the idea OF certifying
all who pass, and In voting for the amendment to
the rules, submitted statement which went
cation in groupes OF four out of the list OF those
who have passed the examination, just as is done
in making appointments through the Commits
stonerS. When the question came up as to the
New York custom house service, he submitted
very strong argument against the cert1hcatfon OF
the whole class, and in favor OF the groupes Of
four.
Mr. Burt and many other strong advocates OF
civil service reform took the other ground. bold
permitting a choice IRON ali who passed. In the
New York custOm-house this has worked very
well
colleagues on this one point, that the amend
ment to the rules VIII do more towards perfecting
the service than anything since the passage Of the
He got letter this morning asking If the term
compulsory" was to be construed strictly;
whether the clerks must, whether they want to or
the construction must be strict; that clerks win
have to take the examinations for promotion. He
says this is going to work wonders in the service;
1t has his most cordial approval.
HON. BENZ. BurrERwoRrH ON THE SUBJECT OF PRO-
NOTIONS.
TEE STAR reporter, upon leaving the Civ1l-Ser-
vice Commission rooms, overlook Hon. Benz But
terworth, ex-Commissioner Of Patents. Being
asked for his opinion OF the new rules he replied:
81 have not had time to read them yet and am
Primarily, there is no person so well qualified to
determine promotions as the head OF bureau, but
he can't always use his best judgment In
such matters. I made 1t an almost tnflexible
rule in the Patent ONCE to promote only the most
competent, the most mertOrtouS. did not ask
the politics religion or color Of the person; If he
or she had record that entitled promotion made
1t. But occasionally had to throw a tub to a
whale, and that is where the difficulty comes in.
Strong political and social influence will demand
the promotion OF inferior persons over the superior
clerk. In some cases 1t is almost a matter of i'm
possibility to refuse these demands /
made ,s9, enemies ale By adhering to my rule as
examinations could be devised that would relieve
the head OF the bureau OF the responsibility OF
man 4F,5s sr ,he m would be
based upon the records the clerks have made for
efficiency. The danger is that these examinations
will be too technical You might take some OF the
ablest clerks in the Interior Department, for in
stance, to-day, and they have, perhaps, forgotten
how to extract the square the cube
root, because they haven't had any occasion to
apply the rules since bOyhOOd. But IL the eXami-
nations for promotions could be made practical
and relieved from technical questions, and the
records OF the clerks, as made from month to
month or by the year, be permitted to count,
think 1t would be good thing.
IN OPERATION IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The Civii-Service Commission are buSily engaged
to-day putting the new rules OF promotion into
operation in the War Department. That, as here
tofore stated, is the first Department in which
they are TO be applied.
District Government Affair.".
STILL AFTER THAT DINNER-sET.
The last has not been heard OF that $3.50 set OF
table china, which was purchased by the Wash
tngtOn ASylu last Christmas, but which the Dis
tr1cC Commissioners considered unnecessary and
ordered sent back and the money returned. The
ment has not come into the United States Urea
Sury, and he now asks that the Commissioners tell
him what has become or II.
BUILDING PERMITS.
Building permits have been issued by Inspector
Entwisle as follows: Mary Martin, TO erect two
brick dwellings 81, O00 numbered 1000 and 1902 9Th
street southwest; Daniel Nichols, to erect brick
dwelling 800, in alley; j. NJ. York & Son to erect
brick dwelling 5000, numbered $40 street
southeast; NJ. L. Brown, to erect brick dwelling
s., $50 numbered 1882 10th street northwest; j.
Bech, to erect frame dwelling 81 100 at Benning's;
numbered 1913 9Th street northwest; j. j. Jones,
to erect twelve brick dwellings, s2l 800 numbered
20O9 to 2O3l inclusive, POrtner street northwest:
II. Sheahy, to erect brick stable, In rear OF 1000
11th street northwest; L. j. Davis, to repair No.
1000 street northwest, 81 500.